Wood bolster forward ranks

Boreham Wood sign Charlton Athletic's Josh Umerah on loan

Boreham Wood have strengthened their attacking options with a second loan move for a frontman in a matter of days, as Charlton Athletic forward Josh Umerah arrives at Meadow Park.

Wednesday’s deal comes hot on the heels of Justin Shaibu’s temporary switch from Championship side Brentford on Monday as manager Luke Garrard adds to his stable of strikers.

Umerah arrives carrying plenty of promise with the 21-year-old previously enjoying loan spells higher up the pyramid at both Scottish Premiership outfit Kilmarnock and Wycombe Wanderers.

With two league appearances to his name at his parent club, the forward will offer plenty of pace and power to the Wood front line as they look to build on an encouraging start to the new National League season that has seen them pick up four points from a possible six so far.

Standing at 6ft 1in, he is primed to cause problems for defences and moves to Hertfordshire with a pedigree in youth football – a track record of success that he is undoubtedly looking to translate to the senior game.

On moving to the Wood, Umerah told the club website: “Things happened quite fast and Boreham Wood were the team who wanted me the most. So it was a no brainer, they have promised me minutes and I am hopefully going to help the team.

“I am the type of striker who likes to hold up the ball and bring other people into play. I also like to receive the ball, turn and run at defenders, and just be a general nightmare.

“The gaffer brought me into the office today and he was talking about the history of the club and he was talking about last season and the success that the club enjoyed. He wants to be successful again and hopefully I can help the club do that.”

Umerah will complement an exciting array of attacking talent including Shaun Jeffers, Bradley Ash and the aforementioned Shaibu, and Garrard was quick to express his delight with his latest capture.

“He had a successful loan at Wycombe last year and I have done my homework on him. I talked to Gareth [Ainsworth] at Wycombe and he spoke very highly of the boy,” Garrard said.

“I envisage him coming in and making that forward berth his own, because I think that pace and power hurts teams at this level.”

Boreham Wood now make the long trip to North Wales to face unbeaten Wrexham on Saturday, kick-off 12.35pm, having shared a goalless draw away to Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday night.

Umerah is in line to feature at the Racecourse Ground with the Wood looking to extend their unblemished start to three matches as ninth play eighth.

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